ࡱ > L N K ` R * bjbj 20 ^ % 8 , , C. > > " ` ` ` ` ` ` - - - - - - - $ 0 h u2 L - 9 C ` ` C C - ` ` - C ` ` - C - + - ` 2 ~g\ , - . 0 C. $, 2 2 $ - 2 - ` " ` ` ` - - K X ` ` ` C. C C C C 'Y+^KN^yvKb T H E T O U C H O F T H E M A S T E R S H A N D I t w a s b a t t e r e d a n d s c a r r e d , a n d t h e a u c t i o n e e r T h o u g h t i t s c a r c e l y w o r t h h i s w h i l e T o w a s t e m u c h t i m e o n t h e o l d v i o l i n , B u t h e l d i t u p w i t h a s m i l e , W h a t a m I b i d d e n , g o o d f o l k s . h e c r i e d , W h o l l s t a r t t h e b i d ding for me? A dollar, a dollar. And then, Two! Only two? Two dollars, and wholl make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice. Going for three But no. From the room, far back, a gray-haired man Came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, And tightening the loose strings, He played a melody pure and sweet As a caroling angel sings. The music ceased, and the auctioneer, With a voice that was quiet and low, Said: What am I bid for the old violin? And he held it up with the bow. A thousand dollars, and wholl make it two? Two thousand! And wholl make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, And going, and gone, said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, We do not quite understand What changed its worth. Swift came the reply: The touch of a masters hand. And many a man with life out of tune, And battered and scarred with sin, Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, Much like the old violin. A mess of pottage, a glass of wine; A gameand he travels on. He is going once, and going twice, He is going and almost gone. But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd Never can quite understand The worth of a soul and the change thats wrought By the touch of the Masters hand. By Myra Brooks Welch b㌄vNbwb4x v\c4t _`'Yi NN~^P" NR7_6^W_{ w\c4t 0MO[[4t`PQPY\ 0 0TMOYUP 0 0 NJX"0 NJX" 00iQJX" 00MbiQJX" 0 0 gNR0R NJXU 0 0 NJX" N!k 00 NJX"iQ!k 0 0 NJX"㌆NT- - 00I{ NN 0 NMOppNp NMRO bwN_ bS4tvppuX }}N&_ bQ Nn_*Qvf u1\P)YOKN0 sO\Pbkb㌄vN V0WOU 04t`PQPY\ 0 TBfb_ w0 0 NCSJX gNR0RiQCSU 0 0iQCSJX gNR0R NCSU 0 0 NCSJX N!k 00 NCSJXiQ!k 0 0 NCSJX N!k 00㌆N 0 'Y[bKbS}Y0 FO gNOU 0pNg_0/fNO4tvP